Country Director at CARE

The Country Director (CD) is responsible for fulfilling the CI approved “Performance Standards of Country Offices”. S/he oversees the development, funding and implementation of the Country Office (CO) program portfolio. S/he is responsible for adequate emergency preparedness and manages emergency programming and operations. S/he establishes and sustains productive relationships and political influence with government officials, donors and strategic partners. S/he leads the CO's fundraising strategy and ensures the CO’s financial viability. An organizational citizen, s/he contributes to CI's global strategy, shares knowledge and supports the generation of evidence to inform CARE's global programming.

The CD is also accountable for competent operational and risk management, including the proper management, well being and safety of CARE staff and the proper stewardship of CARE's resources. The CD models and ensures systematic practice of CARE core values - Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Excellence- S/he also promotes Gender Equality and Diversity among CO staff and in programming.

The CD models new ways of working and drives the teams toward the CARE 2030 Vision, fostering innovation, holistic planning and programming and helping to build effective teams, coalitions and networks. S/he encourages on-going staff development to motivate and strengthen the teams’ resilience in the face of change.

Country Office Highlights

CARE has been operating in Kenya since 1968 working in close collaboration with multiple stakeholders to help enhance social justice and alleviate poverty in the country. CARE Kenya reaches approximately 2 million people per year in the areas of gender equality and women’s voice, economic empowerment, health, food and nutrition security and climate change resilience, and humanitarian assistance. CARE uses a program approach to address the underlying causes of poverty for marginalized groups and works in collaboration with national and county governments, communities and development partners to implement programs and influence policies that reduce poverty and social injustice. CARE works with a range of stakeholders including the Government of Kenya, the private sector, local and international non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations. CARE intends to transform CARE Kenya in a locally-governed organization that would be part of CARE's Global Network. While the timeframe for this institutional transformation is not defined yet, it is expected that the Country Director will at least coordinate the initial steps of this organizational transition.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Staff management

• Build a strong, innovative senior leadership team and effectively manage all direct reports.
• Manage direct reports towards high standards of performance through clear roles and responsibilities, on-going feedback and appraisals. Proactively address performance issues through timely constructive feedback and coaching.
• Notice talent and maximize the use of available talent through on-going staff development and career management.
• Prepare successors for senior roles (including CD role) and oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior staff.
• Foster accountability, leadership, diversity and transparency of operations with the Senior Leadership Team as well as other CO-based advisory and decision-making bodies.

Strategic Planning

• Lead the design, implementation and evolution of the CO strategic plan in sync with the country and regional roadmap, and in line with the CI vision and mission.
• Develop a high quality and innovative strategic plan, based on thorough contextual analysis, and using an inclusive and participatory process. Monitor and revise as required.
• Ensure proper alignment with CI and regional plans and priorities as well as with CARE’s strategic initiatives (Gender Equality and Diversity, Rights Based Approach and advocacy).
• Ensure sound understanding of strategic plan and approaches by all stakeholders.
• Oversee the development of an Annual Canvass in line with the CO Strategic Plan. Ensure proper implementation and monitoring of the canvass.
• Oversee periodic analysis of the operating environment and ensure CARE’s role and operating model are in line with that environment.
• Design and lead organizational change processes to leverage opportunities and evolve towards the CARE 2030 strategy.

Program Impact and Relevance

• Oversee CO programming to advance CARE's vision and mission, in line with CARE's standards for program quality. Work in partnerships with others inside and outside of CARE to achieve broad scale impact.
• Ensure staff and systems are in place to guarantee that CO programs are designed and implemented based on sound analysis (including gender analysis), address the underlying causes of poverty and are in line with CI Programming Principles and CI Program Quality Standards.
• Work with senior staff to generate a viable program pipeline in line with CO strategy and lead the development of an appropriate fundraising strategy for those programs. Ensure effective and efficient implementation of all programs and projects.
• Ensure that proper monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to demonstrate impact on Underlying Causes of Poverty including gender inequality and that program lessons are being used and shared for learning and advocacy. Promote continuous learning in the CO.
• Ensure that disaster risk management is integrated into all programs and that an appropriate emergency preparedness plan is updated regularly. Respond to emergencies when they occur and lead operations in line with CI’s emergency strategy.
• Ensure the development and implementation of a CO advocacy agenda that supports country office programs and, if possible, is in line with CO and CI priorities.

Resource Mobilization and Operations Viability

• Direct the mobilization, management and accounting of all resources in the CO in compliance with CARE policies and donor requirements.
• Identify and secure adequate funding for ongoing and future program activities on a timely basis. Ensure good stewardship of the funding, negotiating acceptable terms and conditions.
• Monitor the CO’s financial position and ensure the best use of available resources. This includes overseeing the development and review of CO annual budget, proper allocation of shared program costs (cost pools), development of unrestricted requests, review of financial transactions and reports, maximizing cost recovery from restricted grants and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Ensure that qualified staff and appropriate policies, procedures and systems for finance and other strategic support functions (e.g procurement, transport, inventory, etc.) are in place and functioning throughout the CO.
• Ensure adequate risk analysis and internal controls are in place to protect the CO’s assets and to ensure the resources are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions.
• Ensure the CO operations are conducted in accordance with all statutory and tax requirements. The CD oversees safety and security for all staff and visitors in the CO and upholds CARE International Safety and Security Principles.
• Ensure management structure of CO is proportional to CO income.

Human Resources

• Oversee the management and development of CO human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled and productive workforce. Promote an organizational culture where CARE Core Values are practiced, team work is encouraged and all staff have a clear understanding of their role and contribution.
• Establish a strong Human Resource strategy in line with the CO Strategic Plan and ensure that systems are in place and being properly implemented for recruitment, staff development, performance management and compensation.
• Lead talent management and succession management in the CO through the implementation of a comprehensive leadership development plan.
• Ensure Gender Equality and Diversity policies and processes are in place and monitored. • Ensure appropriate workplace policies including to ensure fairness and equity are developed and used (e.g. policies related to staff security, to HIV/AIDS, PHSEA, etc.)
• Actively promote staff wellness by monitoring staff morale and taking action as needed.

External Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy

• Develop and enhance relationships, partnerships and networks between the CO, other parts of CARE and external organizations to maximize CARE's impact on poverty and social justice.
• Proactively analyse the actors who have the potential to contribute to the achievement of the CO program goals within the broader context including government, private sector, donors and foundations, international and local civil society, academic institutions. Establish and actively sustain productive relationships with relevant actors (inside and outside the country).
• Play a key role in identifying issues to be addressed to heighten donor and government accountability and maintain CARE's image and visibility amongst these groups.
• Contribute to national dialogue on poverty reduction strategies and advocate for change in policies and practice in line with program goals. Support and work effectively in coalitions, networks and social movements to achieve broader impact.
• Actively participate in the Regional Leadership Team and ensure that the CO contributes to regional and institutional initiatives/priorities.
• Ensure effective media relations. Act as CARE spokesperson as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline
• Master’s degree in relevant discipline is an asset.
• 6-8 years in senior management position in development field
• Strategic and operational Management
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic and operational planning
• Extensive conceptual skills including strategic analysis
• Demonstrated management skills in a complex international setting
• People/Relationship Management
• Demonstrated self-awareness, leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strong human resource management skills including capacity building, coaching and conflict management;
• Experience supervising and developing a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting;
• Demonstrated interest and ability to give feedback, develop, motivate and lead a diverse team to achieve results;
• Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments

Financial Management

• Knowledge and experience with financial management as demonstrated by ability to:
• Manage a complex budget
• Effectively follow-up on internal and external audit recommendations
• Ensure donor compliance and reporting
• Information/Knowledge Management
• Ability to establish a learning culture within the CO and to facilitate knowledge sharing across CARE Languages
• English
• 8+ years in a senior management position in development field
• Demonstrated experience in program design, implementation and evaluation
• Experience managing emergencies